February 26, 2018

I've been very busy trying to move my son into his new apartment in Columbus Georgia. He will be starting his new law career by being a clerk for two judges in the Superior Court. Visiting Columbus Georgia made me realize how different we all are in parts of the country in terms of Education. I was sitting outside of a cafe for lunch with my husband and my son and a news team pulled up in the parking area beside us. They got their cameras out of the car and their recording equipment and started interviewing parents on the street. Apparently redistricting recently occurred. Some parents were thrilled While others were not. I listened to the conversations and found out the parents who were upset we're the ones whose students were taken out of the so-called good schools and put into the less desirable schools. I started thinking how I might have felt if my son had been taken out of his school and put into another when he was growing up. I'm sure I would not have liked it. I would like to say that I would I would like to be supportive and say it would all be fine but truly it is not fair to students who have formed friendships and bonds with their teachers and have grown familiar with their surroundings.
I wonder if he would still have gone to Penn State for chemical engineering and I wonder if he would still have gone to UGA law school if he would have had a disrupted education. We will never know that answer. I would like to think that he would have persevered in spite of the change. That's how I raised him after all.
I talked to the reporter when she was finished interviewing the parents and I asked her what she thought about the results of her impromptu survey. She said it was about 50/50. Some parents didn't really mind but some did. I guess that's how it is with everything. We all have our own opinions and we all have our own reasons for those opinions. We need to respect those opinions stay firm in ours and make the best of it.
I feel this is appropriate for coaching because we need to respect the opinions of the teachers we are coaching. Some teachers are not tech-savvy and don't want to be. We shouldn't force it down their throats. We should respect their opinions. I try to do this every time I walk into a classroom. I actually take baby steps and figure out what people are willing to try. And I let them figure out the rest.

February 16, 2018

I think I was a game show host in a former life.
Or, maybe I am a cruise director  at heart....no lie....true story......my former principal officially 'badged' me with a name tag that said " Julie...Cruise Director (The Love Boat) of the Middle School."

I love giving away prizes....I love it!   It brings me great joy to give things away.  I get this from my mother.  She was obnoxious at holidays, like Christmas.  So much giving.  I'm absolutely positive that I got my 'giving' love from her.

The minute I won these professional books at a recent EdCamp (South Carolina), I knew I would bring them back to my school and give them as prizes. 

How to give them away was the challenge:

I offered online training for the teachers in the middle school via Google Slides.  My teachers/colleagues/friends are overwhelmed with duties, classes, initiatives, etc.....I cannot bear to add to their plates by asking them to give up lunch/prep/or after school time by attending a formal training.  So, I am creating many different Google Slide presentations that serve as mini-training's for the staff.  I borrowed one inspiration from Dee....a Twitter slide show he shared at Winter institute.  I made a copy of the show and I completely redid it to serve the needs of my staff.  I sent it via email along with a very brief Google Forms evaluation. 

I gave the 5 books away to the first 5 teachers to complete the evaluation.  They did not know ahead of time about the prize.  I  kept it a secret! 

The winners were so surprised and happy, and honestly, they were so appreciative of receiving a PD book.  They told me they simply do not have time to read through and select a PD text.  The 5 of them are so excited about reading a new PD book and already decided to read and share and switch the books out so they can all become experts in these topics.  They are each sharing a brief synopsis of the books they received with our staff via email and via a faculty meeting.  I love that by giving this prize I stirred up a desire to "learn and share" with our staff!

February 11, 2018

In honor of Valentine's day this week I would like to reflect on how much I love my job.

I have been participating in the online challenge #14daysoflovinglearning.
Each day I have been writing down reasons why I love different things about my job. For instance some of the topics were why do you love your students, how do you show your staff that you care, what does your principal do to show he is supportive, Etc. I have enjoyed this because it makes you think and it makes you realize all of the positives in your profession.

Believe it or not it is actually quite hard to come up with all of the positive answers. It's so much easier to complain than it is to praise. Why is that so true?

I was eating at a restaurant Friday night, and we had such a pleasant waitress. The manager visited our table and asked how everything was going. I made it a point to tell her that our waitress was exceptional and we were happy to have her waiting on us. The manager said, ^ Thank you so much, because most people find it very easy to complain, but most people rarely praise our staff. Thank you so much." I was so happy that I took the time to praise the waitress.

I don't think we take time to praise ourselves or the people around us at work very often. Isn't that a shame? 

I found that participating in the online chat was a very reflective exercise . It made me think, and it made me realize how grateful I am.  I am a glass-half-full type of person that sometimes  we need to reflect positively. Take time to look around and see what's good. Start with the little things. Help a colleague, smile, ask questions, learn from someone else, borrow a good idea, try something new. At the end of the day try to reflect. Write something good down on a Post-It note and leave it on your laptop so when you get to your class the next morning you see a positive.

There is never one day that goes by that I don't realize how absolutely fortunate and blessed I am to be a technology coach in my building for the DLP program this year. Although I know it is ending, I am counting every single day as a blessing, and I am building upon the positives as much as I possibly can.  #behappy #mindfulness

February 6, 2018

I took this picture on my way in to the Winter Institute on Wednesday, January 31.  This was right at the exit....yes, I pulled over to take the picture.  I am a rules follower!

I thought it was so beautiful.  I was so energized and ready to take on the activities waiting for us at Institute.

The drive was far for me....2 hours....but during that time, I reflected on how lucky I am to be a part of this amazing journey!  

Once I got in the building, I felt the tide turn.

I could tell something was wrong.

So much disappointment about not being able to move forward with the research project.

I cannot lie.

I, too, am disappointed.  But......we move forward......

On a happy note, I left winter institute, got in my car, and drove to South Carolina where I met up with my dear friends, Kelli Coons and Christin Edge.  What fabulous women, and such an amazing EdCamp!!!!

Here are some pictures!

 

I left feeling so refreshed and so energized!

I spoke about Jennie's book to a group who never heard of it.....I was proud to represent!!

I also learned about Heather's book from Christin, I purchased one on Amazon, and I'm giving it as a prize at my school!

Keeping it all in the family!

Yes, Dee, I also printed copies of your #smashboardEDU and shared with my colleagues!!!  

The very best part of Winter Institute???????

THE CANDY, OF COURSE!!!!